Category Archives: PSED Activities for Supply Teachers in EYFS

Make happy and sad faces during group time. Use lolly sticks and gummed paper shapes or marker pens and paper and discuss different situations that make the children feel happy and sad. For more mature children extend to include different emotions. Younger children could practice making happy and sad faces. Use mirrors and draw/paint/chalk faces or make in play dough as an adult led task. (Links to C & L, M, PD, EAD)

In key worker groups, pass a toy around the circle and take turns to speak. Ideas might include saying name, favourite colour or food, family members, something that makes them happy/sad, something they are good at…depending on age and maturity of children. (Links to C&L and UW)

Parachute or lycra games (ideas available freely online) whole class or small groups dependent on maturity of children (often such resources are available, and children generally love them!) (Links to PD and EAD)

Set the children a challenge related to their topic, and work with them in small groups for an adult-led activity. Can they build a home for the farm animals / a bridge with the crates outdoors/sort the compare bears by size or colour? (Links to C&L, L, M, EAD, PD and UW)

Ring games, such as The Farmer’s In His Den / In And Out The Dusty Bluebells / There Was A Princess Long Ago. (Links to EAD and PD )

Read a story about someone’s feelings or behaviour (The Rainbow Fish / Laura’s Star / When Mum Turned Into A Monster / Where The Wild Things Are are classic examples, but there are lots of others) and then discuss what impact they had on the other characters. With less mature children, keep questions simple, with the most mature children, encourage them to relate it to their own experiences. (Links to C&L and L)

Play “Who Stole The Cookie From The Cookie Jar”. Children sit in a circle and tap knees and clap hands alternately. Then all chant “Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?” before one child is chosen as the “cookie stealer”. Then all chant “(Insert name) stole the cookie from the cookie jar.” They say (alone) “Who, me?” to which the response is “Yes, you!” and they say “It wasn't me!” and then all chant “Then who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?” whereupon a new child is chosen. It may take a few turns to get this game working effectively, but children love it, and it is great fun as it gets everybody involved, either as the cookie stealer or the accusers! (Links to L, PD and EAD)